‘EastEnders’ bosses have announced the (temporary) return of one of Walford’s most significant characters, revealing that Lord Michael Cashman is set to reprise his role as Colin Russell.
Lord Cashman will feature in two episodes in September, and while bosses are remaining tight-lipped on the details of why he’s back, his arrival will raise a big question for Dot Cotton.
Speaking of his return, Michael says: “It was a real joy, indeed a privilege, to return to my old home of Albert Square.
“To be amongst so many friends again, and to be back in the place where 30 years ago I started an amazing journey. An amazing journey which incredibly helped to change the country, and certainly its attitude to lesbian gay and bisexual people.
“Arguably without ‘EastEnders’ I would never have gone into politics; I would not have been one of the founders of Stonewall and its founding chair, and I would never have ended up where I am now.
“As Shakespeare would have said by returning to where it all started ‘the wheel has turned full circle’. And the exquisite joy of having my scenes with the incredible ‘Dame’ June Brown was a bonus beyond anything else.”
Michael made soap history when his character shared a kiss with Barry Clark in 1987, which was the first gay kiss to be screened on prime time British television.
The scene was viewed by over 17 million viewers, and when he left the soap two years later, Michael co-founded Stonewall.
Catch up on all the latest soap news and spoilers here.
